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Archival description
Jeremiah S. Fitterer Papers
US NjMdUMCG 2672 · Collection · 1892-1909

The Jeremiah S. Fitterer Papers contain sermons, addresses, record books, clippings, and correspondence. The bulk of this collection is comprised of approximately 900 sermons which document the preaching career of Fitterer.

The remainder of the papers contains four addresses, two record books, clippings related to topics on which Fitterer preached, and a stewardship appeal. Sermons make up the largest part of this collection, and most are undated. Those with dates also usually contain references to the location where the sermon was preached. A few sermons are in German. Most of the sermons, written on small sheets of paper or note cards, have been grouped by books of the Bible. However, there are three small books of bound sermons and sermonettes.

In addition, there are nine small booklets of sermons on specific topics, including children, the church, Christians, the conference year, missions, tithing, revivals, the Sabbath, temperance, and education. One folder contains incomplete sermons and fragments. Fitterer used many illustrations and examples in his sermons. One folder contains a small book of illustrations. Another folder contains small pieces of paper with notations and inspirational references on them.

The collection contains an index to fifty of the sermons. This index contains a short title and a text reference. Four addresses are contained in this collection. The addresses are titled, "Decision Day," "Before the Liquor League of Ohio," "G.A.R. Memorial Service," and "Socialism." The G.A.R. address was presented at Bettsville, Ohio, in 1904. The address on socialism was given to the Mt. Cory Reunion in 1909. The other two addresses are undated.

Two record books are part of these papers. One is a 1892 pastoral record book which contains a text reference to the sermon preached on Sunday, notations on weather throughout the week, and lists of visitations. At the back of this book, there is a list of expenses. A second record book is an account book from 1892-1893. Dozens of clippings Fitterer accumulated on topics of importance to him are contained in this collection. Many were used in preparation of his sermons, and some were incorporated into them. These clippings are on a variety of topics including temperance, missions, tithing, and the religious aspects of dancing. The clippings are in the form of short articles, poems, and inspirational thoughts. They have been photocopied from the originals due to deterioration. Most have no reference to date or to the newspaper or periodical from which they were taken. The last item in this collection is an undated letter on the topic of stewardship. It is a handwritten form letter from the Board of Officials of the Evangelical Church to church members regarding financial contributions to the church.

Fitterer, Jeremiah S.
James Stein Dissertation
US NjMdUMCG 4204 · Collection · 1965

This collection consists of the dissertation of K. James Stein at Union Theological Seminary, submitted in 1965. There is a single volume of roughly 320 typed pages. Its focus is on the various Ecumenical currents within the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and its forerunners, along with its occasional attempts at union with denominations such as the Methodist Episcopal Church. Stein examines the attempts and explains their origins, progress and ultimate reasons (in attempts at union) for failure. The time-span largely focuses on the 19th century, with some early focus on the late-18th century. Stein depicts the ethos, and rural emphasis of the Brethren sects along with their involvement in foreign missionary work. He also makes a significant focus of the pietistic elements in Church of the United Brethren doctrine, attitude, and worship.

Stein, K. James
Hannah Flammer Papers
US NjMdUMCG 587 · Collection · 1949-1966

This collection contains slides, audiotapes, films, a filmstrip, slide scripts and listings, conference reports and promotional materials, correspondence, and some photographs.

This collection contains slides, audiotapes, films, a filmstrip, slide scripts and listings, conference reports and promotional materials, correspondence, and some photographs. The slides contain images taken by Hannah Flammer of diverse subjects, most of which are related to the home and foreign missions of the Methodist Church during the 1940's to the 1960's. These include pictures of schools, hospitals and medical clinics, homes, settlement houses, missions to cities and rural areas, Native American missions, and a variety of scenes from both urban and rural areas that were foci for the church's mission and ministry during this period. There are also many slides of conferences of the Women's Society of Christian Service and other church agencies in which Flammer was active. Many scenes from foreign missions and pictures of foreign missionaries are also included. Most of the slides were used in presentations that Flammer gave to highlight and promote the mission work of the Methodist Church. The audiotapes include recordings of some of Flammer's slide presentations, of Bible studies and lectures given at various conferences that she attended, of radio interviews, and of church music. There are three reels of film, two of which are 16 mm and one is 8 mm. the filmstrip is titled "Swinging toward the Light." Also included in the collection are some printed slide scripts connected to Flammer's slide shows, several letters related to her mission promotion work, a container listing of the audiotapes, reports and promotional materials from some W.S.C.S. conferences that she attended, and some photographs.

Flammer, Hannah Florence
Elmer Edwin Burtner Papers
US NjMdUMCG 2661 · Collection · 1903-1923

This collection contains sermons, manuscripts, correspondence, and biographical material on Elmer Edwin Burtner. The largest part of this collection is sermons which document his ministerial career as a Congregationalist and a Church of the United Brethren in Christ pastor. There are approximately 375 sermons. Most are not dated. The sermons have been grouped by text reference, topic, title, and fragments. Topics that Burtner addressed in his sermons included the Bible, Christians in the world, church work and the nature and criticisms of, communion and Christmas, evangelism, missions, education, youth, interchurch relations, the ministry, pastoral subjects, temperance and prohibition, and World War I. The sermons on the Bible were preached at the College Church in Westerville, Ohio, during the fundamentalist controversy of 1921-1922. They attracted widespread attention in the church.

There are five manuscripts written by Burtner on religious topics. "The Immanence of God" is 112 handwritten pages. "The Problem of Evil" is seventy-one typed pages. Both papers may have been written by Burtner while he was attending school. He also took continuing education classes with N. E. Cornetet at Otterbein College. Burtner wrote three papers for these classes. The topics of these papers are Gideon, Nehemiah, and Hebrews.

The correspondence contains a single letter written in 1914 on prohibition. It is addressed to the "Congregationalist" and discusses the prohibition views of Dr. Washington Gladden. This letter is decidedly for prohibition and against liquor trafficking.

The biographical materials include a marriage certificate, a memorial tribute, and a family photograph. The marriage certificate is from his 1910 marriage to Maude Truxall. The memorial tribute entitled, "Memorial to a Man of God," is sixty pages and contains biographical information, testimonials to his life and work, and sermons by Burtner. It was prepared by a committee of the Wagoner Memorial Bible Class of the United Brethren Church in Westerville, Ohio. Finally, there is a black and white photograph of Burtner and his three brothers, Otto, Weldon, and Luther.

Burtner, Elmer Edwin
Edmund Simon Lorenz Papers
US NjMdUMCG 5182 · Collection · 1875-1886

This collection consists of a lecture on United Brethren Church in Christ hymnology, a scrapbook and an autobiographical manuscript from Edmund S. Lorenz. The scrapbook consists of a collection of his verses to hymns; manuscripts of his published articles in The Religious Telescope and The Bible Teacher, and two addresses to the American Congress of Churches.

Lorenz, Edmund Simon
Dorothy Nyland Papers
US NjMdUMCG 4669 · Collection · 1932-2009

The Dorothy Nyland papers are comprised of writings, seminars, informational files, photographs, and correspondences, dating from 1935 to 2009. This collection reflects the passion of Nyland in her work for a better spirit among all creeds and races.

The largest part of the collection is correspondences, which can be found throughout most of the folders in the collection. The bulk of the correspondences (1937-1990) are arranged chronologically and can be found in two folders and a bound book of letters. The letters found in the bound book date to 1959 are letters of well wishes for the next step in her life after her departure from the Secretary of Student Work position with the Women’s Division of Christian Service. These letters are from coworkers, friends, and acquaintances she met through the position. The other letters in the two folders date from 1937 to 1990 and contain personal letters, ‘dear friends’ letters, and letters pertaining to general work. Some of these letters are addressed to both Dorothy and her sister, Gertrude. Other correspondences can be found in folders related to an individual, an event, or a trip.

The file folder dealing with her trip to Japan in 1935 include photographs, letters to friends and family, and pamphlets from the ship. There is another file about Japan , which contains personal letters from Yoshi Tokunaga, postcards, and photographs. It also contains clippings, pamphlets, and booklets about international relations and Methodist missions in Japan. The file dealing with her trip to the Conference in Amsterdam in 1939 includes correspondence and writings for the conference, as well as the 1979 Commemoration.

There are also files dedicated to an individual or family. These files include photographs, clippings, pamphlets, and personal letters sent to Nyland from the individual or family members. These individuals are Toyohiko Kagawa, Jameson Jones, Julius S. Scott Jr., Frank and Jean Tubban, Richard Deates, Dr. Benjamin Mays, A.J. Muste, and Theressa Hoover.

Additional files deal with Nyland’s work. A file of seminars she attended, created, and/or organized includes the programs of the “Christian Citizenship Seminar for Students” (first held at the United Nations in 1953) and the “Missionary Education among College Students” seminar. Included in this file are photographs, including two of Eleanor Roosevelt giving a lecture at the “Christian Citizenship Seminar for Students,” letters from parents and participants, and participant surveys. A file that contains her writings includes a copy of the program guide she wrote that accompanied the missionary education movement’s textbook, The Trumpet of the Prophecy by Richard Baker. Other files deal with course outlines, foreign relations, campus co-operatives, Chinese co-operatives, writings about world peace and race relations (especially in the United States). These files all contain clippings, photographs, pamphlets, and some letters.

Nyland, Dorothy A.
David Edwards Papers
US NjMdUMCG 2440 · Collection · 1851-1880

This collection contains a small assortment of papers related to David Edwards. There are three diaries: 1861, 1862, and 1864. These describe daily events. Two articles from the Religious Telescope are included -- one by Edwards in 1851, and a response to the article. Two certificates permitting Edwards to perform marriages are included in this collection -- one is from Ohio (1860), and one from West Virginia (1873). The collection also includes a statement against secret societies, a small ledger recording donations for the Edwards Monument Fund, a wallet belonging to Edwards, and an 1860 account book. In the Biographical folder there are two portraits and short history on the bishop's life.

Edwards, David
Cyrus Kephart Papers
US NjMdUMCG 4219 · Collection · 1903- 1923

This collection includes the sermons, teachings, addresses, writings, notebooks, and accounting records of United Brethren Bishop Cyrus J. Kephart. The bulk of the collection are his sermons, that while undated, may have come from during the period when he served as pastor in Iowa and Ohio, 1878-1913.. His teachings and addresses, due to the subjects and audiences being addressed, appear to have been written while serving as Bishop of the United Brethren Church's Southwestern District from 1913 to 1925. Other writings include his studies and possible drafts of his publications.

Kephart, Cyrus
US NjMdUMCG 3758 · Collection · 1894-1961

The collection comprises mostly Charles Warren Brewbaker's published works and other writings. The majority of the publications include articles from church-related periodicals. These articles discuss topics such as children’s Sunday School attendance, elderly participation in the church, preaching, and the church’s involvement in society. The unpublished works consist of book manuscripts, sermons, and Sunday School lessons. Given the ambiguous format of the sermons and Sunday School lessons, these often overlap in the collection. There are several miscellaneous items in the collection as well, including Brewbaker’s passport and several photographs.

Brewbaker, Charles Warren
US NjMdUMCG 594 · Collection · 1863-1941

This collection contains sermons, lectures, a manuscript, correspondence, and biographical materials related to Charles B. Mitchell. The bulk of this collection is sermons. There are approximately four hundred sermons prepared by Mitchell between 1875 and 1941. All the sermons are handwritten. They were folded length- wise in envelopes which provide the date and location the sermon was given. Many of the sermons had news clippings accompanying them. His sermons were often published by The Inter Ocean newspaper, but a few clippings are from other papers. The clippings have been photocopied and are joined with the sermon and the envelope in an acid free mini folder. Additional clippings or short articles that supplemented the sermon or were used in its preparation have been kept with the sermon as well.

Mitchell's sermons are oriented to the Social Gospel, as he speaks of contemporary issues and challenges. He is particularly concerned with the spiritual and moral well being of young men and women. All the sermons have been arranged by text reference, except those that were given as part of a series. There are thirteen sets of sermons prepared as series. These series sermons contained several sermons on a particular topic such as temperance, gambling, the danger of cities, temptations, and the Christian life. One folder contains a sermon Mitchell gave on the death of Ulysses S. Grant. A news clipping of this sermon is from the Leavenworth Times. Another folder contains photocopies of four news clippings to sermons that had no handwritten copy. In addition, there is a folder of fragmented sermons.

Two folders contain prayer meeting materials prepared by Mitchell. There are forty-four prayer meeting talks in one folder. These are short notations on note cards or small pieces of paper. This material is dated 1897 to 1909, although not every piece is dated. These talks have been arranged by text reference. Talks with no text reference are separated from talks with text reference by an acid free sheet of paper. In addition, there are seven prayer meeting addresses which may have been part of a series. These addresses were given between 1901 and 1912. An envelope contains the date and location of each address.

Lectures and addresses given by Mitchell are the second major part of this collection. There are approximately ninety-five addresses given between 1882 and 1933. The lectures were also folded length-wise and placed in envelopes with the date and location of the presentation. Mitchell lectured to a variety of groups including the Y.M.C.A., college commencements, conferences, conventions, Mason meetings, women's clubs, community organizations and civic groups. Topics that Mitchell addressed in his lectures include peace, women's suffrage, missions, teachers, education, citizenship, Memorial Day, revivals, Abraham Lincoln, Sunday school, and youth. Mitchell also spoke at several universities including Hamline, Dakota Wesleyan, Allegheny College, and Nebraska Wesleyan. The lectures also include five travel accounts. The most extensive account is on the Bible lands. Other countries covered are Holland, Italy, Norway, and Russia.

A typed manuscript Mitchell prepared entitled "Questions to Modern Youth" is part of this collection. There are also three letters addressed to Mitchell. Biographical materials include a handwritten copy of a characterization of Mitchell by Reverend J. S. Daney; two short articles on Mitchell; an article on Mitchell's father, Revered Daniel Patrick Mitchell by S. J. Heaton; and an application for membership in the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. This application contains some ancestry information.

Mitchell, Charles Bayard